Honda as engine supplier to return to F1 in 2014 or later
Discussion
No. They're ultra cautious about F1, after cocking up the marketing advantage in the late 80s and cocking up the whole debacle during the 00s, culminating in the 2009 champions being Brawn and not Honda. They won't want to commit to the cost whilst the world financial situation is as poor as it is.
hiccy said:
I'm pretty certain Renault, Mercedes and Ferrari benefit from increased sales through their F1 participation. I'm positive Honda did in the 80's.
Yes, but the only interesting car honda do currently is the civic, which doesn't really have a hot version which benefits from the impact of racing sucess, and is catered for in touring cars better than F1 anyway.All the others, the target market couldn't care less really...
hiccy said:
I'm pretty certain Renault, Mercedes and Ferrari benefit from increased sales through their F1 participation. I'm positive Honda did in the 80's.
Yes and no Ferrari obviously but they're a sports car manufacturer so I'm going discount them. Renault maybe the F1 programme does I suspect have a halo effect on RenaultSport models but less so on mainstream cars, RS sales will have a halo effect on the mainstream range so there is undoubtedly a wider benefit of motorsport to Renault.Mercedes? well the motorsport programme undoubtedly benefits AMG and this will in turn have halo affect on the mainstream both in shifting AMG addon parts and overall brand buy in.
Honda? More difficult as they don't have a performance range or known performance brand with type R now being constrained to just the Civic not sure how/where Honda would generate road relevance after the disastrous 00 campaign. A F1 programme on it's own won't IMHO generate benefits for them unless a wider performance road car range is on the way. Various lower cost "local" national touring car series would I suspect offer a high ROI. Honda would also need a top tier team to place the engine in and I can't see any obvious candiate. Lotus GP and Redbull racing are tied to Renault until '16. Mclaren have mercades options until a similar period and beyond that I ultimately see them needing to develop their own F1 engine to support the road car programme. Sauber are tied into Ferrari quite heavily so can't see them going Honda. The other teams would all need a substantial direct investment by Honda to develop a WCC/WDC capable car.
The advantages of being involved in F1 doesn't just rest on making out they are connected with road cars in some way. The hospitality is a major asset.
Many companies sponsor the Henley Regatte but few make boats. It's to allow corporate guests to have a decent meal, by the river and to talk amongst themselves about anything other than rowing with people who are not common.
The F1 Paddock Club is a thriving little corporate event and the visitors often know little or nothing about motor racing. The corporate stands are all but empty during practice and qually. For the race proper they will wander out for the start then they will wander back, get drunk and be unable to remember their seat when the finish approaches.
Many companies sponsor the Henley Regatte but few make boats. It's to allow corporate guests to have a decent meal, by the river and to talk amongst themselves about anything other than rowing with people who are not common.
The F1 Paddock Club is a thriving little corporate event and the visitors often know little or nothing about motor racing. The corporate stands are all but empty during practice and qually. For the race proper they will wander out for the start then they will wander back, get drunk and be unable to remember their seat when the finish approaches.
Fair point Derek but the investment in becoming an engine manufacturer is massively different from sponsorship.
I have no idea if Honda will come back or not, I just believe that involvement in F1 as an engine manufacturer can give significant benefit as otherwise there would not be the involvement there currently is. Honda made the NSX a success completely on the back of their F1 involvement last time and it changed the thinking of what we could expect from a mass market japanese manufacturer. All the "Type R" cars that sold over the years can trace a marketing lineage straight back to Ayrton Senna; Honda did pretty well!
I have no idea if Honda will come back or not, I just believe that involvement in F1 as an engine manufacturer can give significant benefit as otherwise there would not be the involvement there currently is. Honda made the NSX a success completely on the back of their F1 involvement last time and it changed the thinking of what we could expect from a mass market japanese manufacturer. All the "Type R" cars that sold over the years can trace a marketing lineage straight back to Ayrton Senna; Honda did pretty well!
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